AT&T Looking to Buy AWS Spectrum from Stelera

Interesting.

While Verizon and at&t continue to gobble up spectrum from smaller and/or now defunct regional players with the full blessing of the FCC, the possible Sprint/T-Mobile merger is getting the cold shoulder. Seems to point to the possibility the FCC would rather only have a duopoly instead of 4 carriers, doesn't it?

Now who's fault is this? Do you blame Verizon and AT&T for providing customers a better wireless experience? These companies didn't get this big by dropped calls and poor data speeds! The fact is that both Verizon and AT&T offer better services than the others and the numbers prove it! They continually are looking for opportunities to improve their networks while the others are looking for ways to gain customers without investing in their future then complaining about it to the government! I applaud companies for putting money into their infrastructure instead of resting on their laurels!

Carriers do not own spectrum. They bid on licenses through "auctions". When auctions are held, the interests vs financial ability are always considered. When two behemoths with money to burn show up, what chance do the less fortunate have? Sprint or TMO are not going to financially waste money on licensed spectrum that they would have to find it work with what they have. Sprint already has multiple frequency spectrums to contend with.

The government has already coddled ATT and VZW through the last 7 years in allowing them to piece back together what was separated from AT&T's monopoly years ago. TMO and Sprint have had the odds stacked against them from the beginning.

If you go to an auction, the one that has the financial cushion to ...(continues)

John your whole argument is invalid because you fail to understand that both Sprint and TMobile HAD the ability to buy spectrum and improve their networks years ago but due to inept management they chose other options. You can't blame AT&T and Verizon for planning their work and working their plan! They had the vision to become the "behemoths" that they are and they did it!

ATT and Verizon planned nothing. They are both remnants of the monopoly broken up in 1984. The sole mission was to regain what was separated. Both inherited the wealth left by the breakup. This has allowed the consistent outbidding for key spectrum and the ability to overtake smaller carriers looking to get bought.

Please ascend to reading of the AT&T monopoly that was targeted by the Government. You will find that any other carriers would have little chance to gain leverage.

Tmo and Sprint have tried very hard to acquire an advantage through means other than that VZW and AT&T have held so tight. In essence, it is not TMO'S or Sprint's fault either.

John, years ago I worked for a company called Aerial communications and left them to work for a company called Sprint PCS. I kinda know the history of both Sprint and TMobile and you are absolutely wrong with your post! Both companies were ran by inept upper management and both companies have suffered while their competition took advantage of a volatile industry. Thanks for playing...and there was no second shooter on the grassy knoll!

I'm not playing anything. I have been a cell phone user for 26 years. I witnessed my cell phone companies over the years to be consistently bought out by the likes of ATT. No matter how much I tried to leave its clutches, I somehow ended up being a customer due these purchases or merges. It followed me and hunted me down. Tmo and Sprint have done remarkably well considering what they had to contend with. Your personal experience with the company you worked for, is outdated and somewhat skewed of the outline. You should of course, as being so close to the experience, know that Sprint did try making several attempts to grow only to be slapped back by the same government that has held ATT and Verizon's hands. I'd be disappointed if you did not...(continues)

You can stand by your posts all you want but the facts are the facts! Sprint has gone through CEO after CEO the past 10+ years and T-Mobile has a big FOR SALE sign on the door! You want to blame the government for making Verizon and AT&T what they are today but the facts are their leadership made them the companies they are today. Never resting on a good days work, instead investing in ways to make their company bigger and better! Isn't this the American way? I have used all 4 major carriers since I've had cell phones and i've come to the conclusion that both AT&T (my company now) and Verizon are by far the best! They offer quality service and don't make excuses for what they charge. If you don't like them then don't use them, switch to TM...(continues)

No excuses. The government asked for input from consumers via public forum on the merge between ATT and TMO. The consumers(including myself) spoke and the deal was disolved. ATT and TMO could've easily had a deal if not for modern day technology of the internet. There shouldn't have even been a discussion or input to begin with The government should've already examined and came to the obvious conclusion that a merge this large would have been detrimental to consumer choice and advocacy.

I have been very cordial in my responses. You appear to take offense to my observation of the wireless industry for 30 years. Maybe if you dont like it, you should back off. The truth remains whether you face it or not. VZW and ATT have had, and always wi...(continues)

I'm also not saying there have been no mistakes during Sprint and TMO's growing. However, when it comes to trying to grow, ATT and Verizon have had their input that greatly affected the outcomes for TMO and Sprint.

bobc74 said:While Verizon and at&t continue to gobble up spectrum from smaller and/or now defunct regional players with the full blessing of the FCC, the possible Sprint/T-Mobile merger is getting the cold shoulder. Seems to point to the possibility the FCC would rather only have a duopoly instead of 4 carriers, doesn't it?

I think you are mislead about current totals of specturm each carrier posses. T-Mobile has MetroPCS's specturm now and Sprint-Nextel has Clearwire. When that is added to the big picture, companies like TMo and Sprint have relatively equal and in some cases more spectrum than the big two and half the total customers than the big two...

Because they don't use any low frequencies. Those travel farther and get inside buildings better. However T-Mobile just bought low frequencies from Verizon that will help them out once that deal closes and the phones become available. And Sprint is also starting to use the low frequencies that they had with Nextel, but again you need to wait until the phones that support it are available.

When shopping, one must first map out where they travel to the most. Then check to see if a carrier has native coverage in these areas.

My dad is 84 and claims he has VZW because of its coverage. Yet, he hardly travels outside our home city. When I tried to get him to switch to Sprint, he became worried that my sister would incur charges on her VZW line for calling him. That's not really his problem. Besides, I don't incur charges when I call him because I get free calling to any network.

"companies like TMo and Sprint have relatively equal and in some cases more spectrum than the big two"

Wow that is a misleading statement. The ASSUMPTION here is that all spectrum is equal, which it isn't. Verizon and AT&T have the largest amounts of the most valuable spectrum in the lower bands. Ask Verizon if they would like to swap spectrum with Sprint and I'll bet all my money on their answer of NO.

The ASSUMPTION here is that all spectrum is equal, which it isn't. Verizon and AT&T have the largest amounts of the most valuable spectrum in the lower bands. Ask Verizon if they would like to swap spectrum with Sprint and I'll bet all my money on their answer of NO.

Not equal is true. But valuable depends. Verizon just got a bunch of high frequency spectrum from T-Mobile because they need it for capacity. And they sold a bunch of low frequency spectrum that they weren't using. Low frequency is good in rural areas, but has poor capacity in the city where high frequency spectrum is useful.

Yup. Verizon and AT&T are the companies which actively participated in constructing the "big brother machine" during the last decade. True story. BBC ran a documentary about it, basically they installed a central computer with viewing access to the full network.. and beyond!